Coloured wastewater is released as a direct result of the production of dyes as well as from various other chemical industries. Many dyes and their breakdown products may be toxic for living organisms. Activated carbon is one of the best materials for removal of dyes from aqueous solutions. The present study describes the adsorption behaviour of methylene blue dye on three microporous activated carbons, where two samples (AC-1 and AC-2) were prepared by a polymer blend technique and the other is a microporous activated carbon (ARY-3) sample from viscose rayon yarn prepared by chemical-physical activation. The effects of contact time and activated carbon dosage on decolourisation capacity have been studied. The results show that activated carbon having mixed microporosity and mesoporosity show tremendous decolourisation capacity for methylene blue. In addition, the activated carbon in the powder form prepared by the polymer blend technique shows better decolourisation capacity for methylene blue than the activated rayon yarn sample.

Two pitches with different average molecular structures were electrospun and compared in terms of the properties of their fibers after oxidative stabilization, carbonization, and activation. The precursor with a higher molecular weight and greater content of aliphatic groups (Pitch A) resulted in better solubility and spinnability compared to that with a lower molecular weight and lower aliphatic group content (Pitch B). The electrical conductivity of the carbon fiber web from Pitch A of 67 S/cm was higher than that from Pitch B of 52 S/cm. The carbon fiber web based on Pitch A was activated more readily with lower activation energy, resulting in a higher specific surface area compared to the carbon fiber based on Pitch B (Pitch A, 2053 m2/g; Pitch B, 1374 m2/g).

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared from cost effective commercial textiles through stabilization, carbonization, and subsequently activation by carbon dioxide. ACFs were characterized for surface area and pore size distribution by physical adsorption of nitrogen at 77 K. ACFs were also examined for various surface characteristics by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and CHNO elemental analyzer. The prepared ACFs exhibited good surface textural properties with well developed micro porous structure. With improvement in physical strength, the commercial textile grade acrylic precursor based ACFs developed in this study may have great utility as cost effective adsorbents in environmental remediation applications.

탄소막은 고분자막에 비해 높은 선택성과 투과성, 열적, 화학적 안정성을 가지고 있어 기체 분리, 특히 휘발성 유기화합물(VOCs) 분리막으로 많은 관심을 받고 있다. 활성탄소중공사막은 기공 표면(pore wall)에 형성된 흡착성 미세기공에 의해 선택적으로 응축성 성분이 흡착, 확산되는 흡착-확산 기구에 의해 흡착성-비흡착성 물질이 분리된다. 본 연구에서는 다공성 알루미나 중공사막 지지체에 phenolic resin (novolac type)을 코팅한 후 산화, 탄화 및 활성화 등의 열분해 과정을 통해 막 표면과 기공 표변에 흡착성 미세기공이 형성된 활성탄소중공사막을 제조하였다. 또한 열분해 조건에 따른 phenol/alumina 복합 활성탄소중공사막의 물리적 특성과 기체 투과특성에 대해 살펴보았다. 그 결과, 제조된 phenol/alumina 복합 활성탄소중공사막이 휘발성 유기물질의 대부분을 차지하고 있는 탄화수소를 선택적으로 분리 회수하는데 매우 효과적인 특성을 갖고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 본 연구에서 개발된 phenol/alumina 복합 활성탄소중공 사막은 VOCs의 분리, 농축에 매우 효과적으로 활용 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

In this study, we used coal-based activated carbons and charcoal as startingmaterials, phenolic resin (PR) as a binder, and TOS as a titanium source to prepare TiO2 combining spherical shaped activated carbon photocatalysts. The textural properties of the activated carbon photocatalysts (SACP) were characterized by specific surface area (BET), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), iodine adsorption, strength intensity, and pressure drop. The photocatalytic activities of the SACPs were characterized by degradation of the organic dyes Methylene Blue (MB), Methylene Orange (MO), and Rhodamine B (Rh. B) and a chemical oxygen demand (COD) experiment. The surface properties are shown by SEM. The XRD patterns of the composites showed that the SACP composite contained a typical single, clear anatase phase. The EDX spectro for the elemental indentification showed the presence of C and O with Ti peaks. According to the results, the spherical activated carbon photocatalysts sample of AOP prepared with activated carbon formed the best spherical shape, a high BET surface area, iodine adsorption capability and strength value, and the lowest pressure drop, and the photocatalytic activity was better than samples prepared with charcoal. We compared the degradation effects among three kinds of dyes. MB solution degraded with the SACP is better than any other dye solutions.

This study investigated the decomposition of fenitrothion in Smithion, which is applied on the golf course for pesticide, by the integrated Zero-valent iron(ZVI) and Granular activated carbon(GAC) process. First, the removal efficiencies of the fenitrothion by ZVI and GAC, respectively, were investigated. Second, the removal efficiencies of the fenitrothion by the integrated ZVI and GAC were investigated. The removal efficiencies of fenitrothion by ZVI were higher than those of TOC. The removal efficiencies of fenitrothion and TOC by GAC were similar. As the dosages of ZVI and GAC were increased, the removal efficiencies of fenitrothion and TOC increased. However, as the dosages of ZVI for pretreatment were increased, the adsorptions of fenitrothion on GAC were hindered.

Removal of dyes Reactive Blue 221, N Blue RGB and Acid Blue MTR using two different samples of activated carbon by static batch method was studied. Experimental data on optical density of solutions at different concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg/L and of solutions after adsorption on activated carbon samples were measured. Calibration curves were plotted and the amount of dye qe adsorbed was calculated. The data was fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms for two different carbon samples and different concentration and pH values. Constants were calculated from the slope and intercept values of the isotherms. Coefficient of correlation R2 and Standard Deviation SD were also noted. The data fitted well to the isotherms. Carbon sample C1 showed higher potential to adsorb all the three dyes. Adsorption was higher at lower concentrations. Carbon sample C2 showed better adsorption in acidic pH as compared to in alkaline pH. From the analysis of the data capacity of C1 and C2 to remove the dyes from water have been compared.

Activated carbons are well known as adsorbents for gases and vapors. Micro porous carbons are used for the sorption/separation of light gases, whereas, carbon with bigger pore size are applied for removal of large molecules. Therefore, the control of pore size of activated carbon plays a vital role for their use in specific applications. In the present work, steam activation parameters have been varied to control pore size of the resulting activated carbon. It was found that flow rate of steam has profound effect on both surface characteristic and surface morphology. The flow rate of steam was optimized to retain monolith structure as well as higher surface area.

Common reed (Fragmites australis), a local invasive grass, was investigated as a possible feedstock for the production of activated carbon. Dried crushed stems were subjected to impregnation with phosphoric acid (30, 40 and 50%) followed by pyrolysis at 400~500℃ with final washing and drying. Obtained carbons were characterized by determining: carbon yield, ash content, slurry pH, textural properties and capacity to remove color bodies from factory-grade sugar liquor. Produced carbons possessed surface area up to 700 m2/g, total pore volumes up to 0.37 cm3/g, and proved to be microporous in nature. Decolorization of hot sugar liquor at 80℃ showed degrees of color removal of 60 up to 77% from initial color of 1100~1300 ICU, at a carbon dose of 1.0 g/100 ml liquor. No correlation seems to hold between synthesis conditions and % R but depends on the degree of microporosity. A commercial activated carbon N showed a comparative better color removal capacity of 91%. Common reed proved to be a viable carbon precursor for production of good adsorbing carbon suitable for decolorization in the sugar industry, as well as in other environmental remediation processes.

The study describes the results of batch experiments on the removal of Reactive Yellow 15 (RY15) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5) from synthetic textile wastewater onto Activated Carbon from Walnut shell (ACW). The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlish, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models of adsorption. The experiments were carried out as function of initial concentrations, pH, temperature (303-333), adsorbent dose and kinetics. The surface area and pore volumes of adsorbent were measured by BET and BJH methods. The findings confirm the surface area (BET) is 248.99 m2/g. The data fitted well with the Temkin and D-R isotherms for RY15 and RB5, respectively. The most favorable adsorption occurred in acidic pH. Pseudo-second order kinetic model were best in agreement with adsorption of RY15 and RB5 on ACW. The results indicate that walnut shell could be an alternative to more costly adsorbent currently being used for dyes removal.

The alginate-based hydrogel was prepared as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system. To enhance the drug loading capacity, activated carbon was introduced as a drug absorbent. The iron oxide was incorporated into the alginate matrix for the magnetic transferring to the target organ. The activated carbon and iron-oxide were dispersed uniformly in the alginate hydrogel. The drug release from the alginate/activated carbon composite hydrogel was carried out in various pH conditions with vitamin B12 and Lactobacillus lamnosers as model drugs. The fast and sustainable release of drug was observed in the basic condition due to the pH-sensitive solubility of alginate. The novel drug delivery system having pH-sensitive release property and magnetic movement to target place was developed by using the alginate/activated carbon composite magnetic hydrogels.

In this study, TiO2-Activated carbon (AC) complex fibers were prepared by electrospinning for the synergetic effect of adsorption and degradation of organic pollutant. The average diameter of these fibers increased with increasing the amount of AC added, except for 1AC-TOF (AC/TiO2 =1/40 mass ratio). After calcinations at 500℃, long as-spun fibers were broken and their average diameter was slightly decreased. The resultant fibers after calcination had rough surface and sphere shapes like a peanut. From XRD results, it was confirmed that as-spun fibers were changed to anatase TiO2 fiber after calcinations at 500℃. The prepared TiO2-AC complex fibers could remove procian blue dyes by solar light irradiation with high removal property of 94~99%. The PB dye was rapidly removed by adsorption during the initial 5 minutes. But after 5 minutes, dye removal was occurred by photodegradation. In this study, the most efficient AC/TiO2 ratio of TiO2-AC complex fibers was 5/40, showing the synergetic effect of adsorption and photodegradation. It is expected that the TiO2-AC complex fibers can be used to remove of organic pollutants in water system.

Coconut shell activated carbon (CSAC) was investigated for its ability in the removal of two neutral chlorinated organic compounds, namely trichloroethylene (TCE) and dichloromethane (DCM) from aqueous solution using a packed bed column. The efficiency of the prepared activated carbon was also compared with a commercial activated carbon (CAC). The important design parameters such as flow rate and bed height were studied. In all the cases the lowest flow rate (5 mL/min) and the highest bed height (25 cm) resulted in maximum uptake and per cent removal. The experimental data were analysed using bed depth service time model (BDST) and Thomas model. The regeneration experiments including about five adsorption-desorption cycles were conducted. The suitable elutant selected from batch regeneration experiments (25% isopropyl alcohol) was used to desorb the loaded activated carbon in each cycle.

The adsorption of Acid Blue 92 onto three low cost and ecofriendly biosorbents viz., cow dung ash, mango stone ash and parthenium leaves ash and commercial activated carbon have discussed in this work. The ash of all the mentioned bio-wastes was prepared in the muffle furnace at 500℃ and all the adsorbents were stored in an air thermostat. Experiments at total dye concentrations of 10~100 mg/L were carried out with a synthetic effluent prepared in the laboratory. The parameters such as pH and dye concentration were varied. Equilibrium adsorption data followed both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The results indicate that cow dung ash, mango stone ash and parthenium leaves ash could be employed as low-cost alternatives to commercial activated carbon in wastewater treatment for the removal of dye.

In this study, the performance of powdered activated carbon(PAC) contactor located in the Hakya water treatment plant(WTP) was evaluated. The result of tracer tests showed that the plug flow portion was more than 70 %. According to the total organic carbon(TOC) data of target WTP, there were no clear evidence that the addition of PAC contributed to the removal of organics. However, the results of jar test, conducted with the raw water taken from the Hakya WTP, proved that PAC could remove dissolved organic carbon(DOC) to some extent when the proper velocity gradient was maintained. It was estimated that the production rate of Hakya WTP, defined as the ratio of the operating flow rate to the design flow rate, was only 50 %. Because of this lower production rate, the mixing intensity in the contactor is much less than the designed value and, finally, the performance of PAC contactor was much less than what was expected.

In this study, the effects of silver treatment and activation on the physical and chemical properties of spherical activated carbon (SAC) were studied. The textural properties of SAC were characterized by BET surface area, XRD, SEM, iodine adsorption, strength intensity, pressure drop and antibacterial effects. BET surface areas of SACs decreased with an increase of the amount of PR before and after activation, and the BET surface areas of SACs were found to be about 2-3 times the size of those before activation. The XRD patterns showed their existing state as stable Ag crystals and carbon structure. The Ag particles are seaweedlike and uniform, being approximately 5-10 μm in size deposited on the surface of activated carbon. All of the samples had much more iodine adsorption capability after activation than before activation. The strength values of SACs increased with an increase of the amount of PR, and there was a smaller drop in the strength values of SACs with silver treatment than with non-silver treatment after activation. The Ag-SAC composites showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. Coli).

Alginate-chitosan blend containing coconut-based activated carbon was prepared as a drug delivery carrier in order to improve the loading and releasing capacity of the drug. The activated carbon was incorporated as effective adsorbent for drug due to the extremely high surface area and pore volume, high adsorption capacity, micro porous structure and specific surface activity. Alginate-chitosan blend containing coconut-based activated carbon showed the sustained release for a longer period. Alginate-chitosan blend showed higher release of drug as the pH increased and higher release of drug as the content of chitosan decreased due to the pH-dependent solubility of blend components.

Activated carbon spheres (ACS) were prepared at different heating rates by carbonization of the resole-type phenolic beads (PB) at 950℃ in N2 atmosphere followed by activation of the resultant char at different temperatures for 5 h in CO2 atmosphere. Influence of heating rate on porosity and temperature on carbon structure and porosity of ACS were investigated. Effect of heating rate and temperature on porosity of ACS was also studied from adsorption isotherms of nitrogen at 77 K using BET method. The results revealed that ACS have exhibited a BET surface area and pore volume greater than 2260 m2/g and 1.63 cm3/g respectively. The structural characteristics variation of ACS with different temperature was studied using Raman spectroscopy. The results exhibited that amount of disorganized carbon affects both the pore structure and adsorption properties of ACS. ACS were also evaluated for structural information using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. ACS were evaluated for chemical composition using CHNS analysis. The ACS prepared different temperatures became more carbonaceous material compared to carbonized material. ACS have possessed well-developed pores structure which were verified by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). SEM micrographs also exhibited that ACS have possessed well-developed micro- and meso-pores structure and the pore size of ACS increased with increasing activation temperature.

본 연구에서는 고도정수처리를 위하여 모듈 내부와 관형 세라믹 정밀여과막 외부 사이의 공간에 입상 활성탄(GAC)을 충전한 혼성 모듈을 사용하였다. 정수 원수 중의 자연산 유기물(NOM)과 미세 무기 입자를 대체하기 위해, 휴믹산(humic acid)과 카올린(kaolin) 모사용액을 대상으로 하였다. 혼성공정에서 막오염을 최소화하고 투과선속(J)을 향상시키기 위하여 10분 주기로 10초 동안 질소 역세척을 시행하였다. 그 결과, 휴믹산의 농도가 10 mg/L부터 2 mg/L로 단계적으로 변화시킴에 따라 막오염에 의한 저항(Rf)이 감소하고 J가 증가하여 2 mg/L에서 가장 높은 총여과부피(VT)를 얻을 수 있었다. 한편, 탁도 및 UV254 흡광도의 처리효율은 각각 99.36% 및 97.19% 이상으로 우수하였으나, 휴믹산의 농도 10 mg/L에서 활성탄 주입 없이 정밀여과 단독으로 UV254 흡광도의 처리효율은 90.84%로 다소 감소하였다.

Study on the removal of Acid Green 20 by adsorption on indigenously prepared activated carbons from cow dung, mango stone, parthenium leaves and commercial activated carbon have been carried out with an aim to obtain information on treating effluents from tanneries. The effects of various experimental parameters have been investigated by following the batch adsorption technique. Adsorption data was modeled with the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Removal of Acid Green 20 was found to be favorable using Biomass ash and could be considered as alternatives to commercial activated carbon for the treatment of tannery effluents, especially for the removal of dye(s).